Project taking good care of myself starts with flying colors this week. Took the refresher driving lesson (got over my fear of driving since I almost killed myself crashing a car something like 4.5 years ago), got new contact lenses with stigmatism correction (so I can read music and books better), got a fabulous facial (and got complimented by my esthetician Barno , being kind to people (learning to be more compassionate, patient, just to be kinder), visit MOMA as often as possible (check, check, check), starting yoga class (check). Next steps are, going back to my meditation class, getting my passport renewed, apply for US citizenship (yep, all that 21 pages of form to fill). I am on my way!

Visited MOMA for some fun experimental live exhibition yesterday. Went home made some fabulous sous vide salmon with veggies from my local organic CSA box for my old student Ariel who is now all on her own and being stronger than any kid I know! I am so happy she reached out to me after all these years. The last time I saw her, she was a little kid!

Anyway, I am thankful, for everything. Just feeling thankful. Wish I could tell all the people that had been in my life that I thank them for enriching me, and for so many endless things that they did for me. I am thankful. Project taking good care of myself had given me a lot of clarity and I am also thankful for that

Another really fruitful music making experience at the Central Vermont Chamber Music Festival this summer. Like last year, I was the chef for the big gala, and played the gala concert right after — what fun!!

Got to perform from memory the piece that I wish to die performing on stage if I get to chose how it goes when the time comes — Rachmaninoff Sonata for Cello and Piano — with Peter Sanders. We played our hearts out of this huge romantic work, I couldn’t asked for more…

Also got to play with the amazing Arturo Delmoni in Tartini’s Devil’s Trills. And the three of us played Smetana’s Trio which was written after the death of the composer’s little daughter. What an epic and tragic composition… This has been one amazing time for me. I am humbled by the whole experience…

After finishing a bunch of concerts at the end of April, switched my brain back to coding. My first time building an ecommerce system, learned so much in the process. Got tons of help from books and programmers who so selflessly contributed on stackoverflow.com and individuals like sanwabe.com. I am grateful.

Work is still in progress, now hosted on my site, and will be ported to client’s site after completion. I won’t tell you what they will be selling, haha — it is beyond your wildest dream

Gonna try hard to finish it fast before I have to get back to the summer of Rachmaninoff Cello Sonata and Smetana Piano Trio… <3

Have been waiting so impatiently for Gauguin: Metamorphoses at MOMA, and the day finally came!! Read a bunch of stuff about Gauguin preparing for the exhibition, fascinated! Came across this little story, made my day:

“Gauguin’s relationship with Van Gogh was rocky. Gauguin had shown an early interest in Impressionism, and the two shared bouts of depression and suicidal tendencies. In 1888, Gauguin and Van Gogh spent nine weeks together, painting in the latter’s Yellow House in Arles. During this time, Gauguin became increasingly disillusioned with Impressionism, and the two quarreled. On the evening of 23 December 1888, frustrated and ill, Van Gogh confronted Gauguin with a razor blade. In a panic, Van Gogh fled to a local brothel. While there, he cut off the lower part of his left ear lobe. He wrapped the severed tissue in newspaper and handed it to a prostitute named Rachel, asking her to “keep this object carefully.” Gauguin left Arles, and a few days later Van Gogh was hospitalized. They never saw each other again, but they continued to correspond and in 1890 Gauguin proposed they form an artist studio in Antwerp. In an 1889 sculptural self-portrait Jug in the form of a Head, Self-portrait Gauguin portrays the traumatic relationship with Van Gogh.”

Made mini pies too this time (thanks to Juanita for chopping all the apples so perfectly), forgot to take pictures of most of the pizzas we made. But this was one fabulous recital, I was quite moved by a lot of beautiful music making, I love my students <3

My pizza dough recipe:
1 teaspoon of yeast
1 1/2 cup of all purpose flour
1 1/2 cup of bread flour
1/2 cup of whole wheat flour
1 1/2 cup of water more or less to make a dough on the wet side
2 tbsp of olive oil
2 tsp of kosher salt

Went with bff Celine to MOMA’s holiday party after teaching her 3 kids! Seeing Magritte for the 6th time, and I just love an empty museum all to myself!! Can’t wait for the Gauguin: Metamorphoses preview reception on Feb 27th!